I think we're in trouble

I'm a regular poster, but changed my name for this. Some of you may work out who I am, but I dont want dh to find it.

I think we're in Financial meltdown. He lost his job at the end of June, has turned down two permanent offers cos he didn't feel he'd settle in them, and is trying to get a contract now.
I've just been given early end of my contract.

We're going on holiday in Sept. Paid for it last month, cos I was confident dh would get something, and I didn't know mine was going to end. We're having major work done on the house, which was started in June. It needs to be finished, will have to be paid for.

I'm looking for work to start when my contract finishes, but daren't look for full-time in case dh does land a contract, meanwhile, contracts are thin on the ground, an interview he had arranged for today has been cancelled (no reason), he feels like he couldn't get arrested, never mind a job.

Suddenly I'm scared. DH has never been unemployed before, always been able to move into a job within days. We've never been seriously short of money before, but I can see our savings are all committed now, and by the time we get back from hols in Oct. we will be done for.

Of course we're starting to argue, cos we're both worried.
I can't talk to any 'real people' about it (Haven't told my mum dh isn't working yet).

We both need to find lucrative temporary work until the summer is over, which allows for child-care. DH and I have no skills except I.T., where we have over 35 years of experience between us.

Prepared to do anything (except let dh go to the middle-east).

Am I over worrying? Anyone got any ideas for making serious money, quickly? How quickly do you go bankrupt?

Yes, dh is just as aware as I am, although I'm the one checking the bank statements, writing cheques for the plumber etc.

Gobbdigook, maybe some help. of course we're checking all the job sites daily, dh is applying for anything going that he's qualified for (applied for 5 on Monday), but responses are either slow or non-existent. Which agency? Can dh send a speculative C.V.?

I think you need to take a deep breath and hen sit down and talk.
Make a plan of action. Any job will do untill you find the right one. Register with loads of agencies. You can get help (I think) with childcare from the government. Have you applied for child tax credit etc and told them of your change in income. Wont be a lot but might help.
Try to think of positive things and enjoy your holiday..its paid for now!!

I know people will think we're irresponsible, paying for our holiday when we did, but it's our first one in 6 years, we've had dreadful bad luck over such a long time, we were soooo looking forward to it.

You want to talk about panic? We suddenly lost £3500 worth of income - a LOT of money to us - in just a month b/c of a tax credit fiasco.

Forget holidays or having work done on a house, we were looking at being unable to pay rent and council tax and still be able to eat. DH had to take a job, ANY job that would fit around childcare commitments. Not the ideal he wanted, but nor is bankrupcy or homelessnes or CCJs/bailiffs/collections agencies.

I hate to have to say this, but sometimes finances force our hand and we have to take jobs/gigs/whatever that aren't our top choice to keep us going for a bit till something better becomes available.

Next job he gets, I'd encourage him to look past his own feelings and take it for the time being. It's easier to get a job once you have a job.

Have you seen an agency yet? Darling, if you're really that skint, take what you can get, even if it's full time. It's a luxury to turn jobs down b/c of what may or may not happen to your DH in the near future, and if you're really going to be scraping the bottom of the barrel in just two months, it's a luxury you can ill afford.

Remember, it's easier to make temporary adjustments - such as childcare - when you have money to do it rather than trying to magic money out of nowhere when you have none coming in. And that if it's a contract it's just that - temporary.

Aside from a lotto jackpot or selling a second property you may have, the only way I can think of to make 'serious' money quickly is to get working and get working fast.

I will do anything, and have some usable skills (book-keeping, VAT, payroll, Windows Support), and I'm fairly sure I can get Something, but not enough to keep us.

DH doesn't have anything transferrable (programmer) so will find it difficult to find anything other than full time. If he gets a contract and needs to go away, I don't want to have committed myself to a full-time job. I know I won't cope with being a 'single mum' and full-time job (I know lots of you do, but I'm useless.

I honestly think you are worrying about too many hypothetical ifs and buts.

If you get a f/t job, then that keeps the wolf from the door immediately. If DH then gets a job, and you feel you must work out your notice, or stay long enough to negotiate a p/t position, you can use the two incomes to bank-roll some extra childcare for a few months. In any case, DH might get a job on your doorstep, and then you would have turned down a job for a non-existent reason! If you have a f/t job, then DH might be more at libery to accept p/t or short contracts knowing that you have staedy guaranteed income - and providing some stability for the kids.

Somethings's got to give - and it would be best all round if it wasn't you giving up your house to the IR or baliffs!

Um, I don't think the insurance would pay out. Dh agreed to resign from his last job , and we paid the final payment after that anyway.

Actually, I'm sitting here at work, starting to get rather angry with him, which I've been keeping a lid on up until now. It isn't really all his fault, he was VERY unhappy in his last job, and he's not used to being 'unwanted'. He had to choose between two last time, and only picked the one he did so he didn't have to go away from home.

I guess some of this is just down to the time of year. But I do feel very insecure about our situation.

It does sound as if your DH has been a bit drama-queeny. It's one thing being unhappy, but it's another to leave a job without another on offer when you have a family, house renovation and holiday to support! That's water under the bridge, EXCEPT that it leves you with 'feelings' at a time when you are under pressure.
Would it help to talk this through with him? Some acknowledgement between you of how anxious you are, and hopefully the fact that he is now prepared to do what he can to sort things out, might help you suport each other through it all?

DH applied for 8 contracts & 2 perms last week. only had a response for 1 so far, who want to interview him, although not until 22nd Aug !!!! He trawls the websites every morning for new vacancies

My contract here ends next week. I've applied for several jobs, and looking for contracts, but I'm trying to stay local. I don't see dh as a stay-at-home father with me away somehow.

We won't cancel the holiday, cos we wouldn't get our money back anyway, and I would resent dh dreadfully if we didn't go. Might have to be careful in the bar and on excursions tho'

I know we will get thru this. Just wish I didn't have to ASK dh to mow the lawn, clean his car etc while I'm at work. You'd think he'd be falling over himself to do things around the house, given the circumstances.